Bicycle.



No. 740,156. PATENTED SEPT. 29, 1903. A. MENDENHALL.

BICYCLE.

no MODEL. g snzms-snm 1 WITNESSESI INVE T Y M W ATTORNEY.

U ITED S'rlrrns i atented september 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS MENDENHALL, OF UNIONPORT, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAS. M.BEST, OF VVINCHESTER,.INDIANA, AND E. T. GRIFFITH, OF

MUNOIE, INDIANA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,156, datedSeptember 29, 1903,

Application filed Tune 1, 1901. Serial No. 62,804. (No model.) I

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AMOS MENDENHALL, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Unionport, in the county of Randolph and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in propelling mechanisms forbicycles and similar vehicles; and it consists in the peculiarconstruction and combination of devices hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a bicyclepropelling-gear embodying my improvements with parts broken away todisclose subja-cent constructions. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional viewof the same. V

A is the hanger of a bicycle-frame, and B is the seat-post. Thepedal-shaft Chas its bearin gs in the hanger, and shells or outercasings D, forming parts of friction-clutches, are secured to the shafton opposite sides of the hanger by keys E; The chain-wheel F is shownsecured to one of the said outer casings. On the end portions of theshaft, revoluble thereon and disposed within the cylindrical recesses ofthe casings D, are cam elements G, each of which is connected to andoperated by a pedal-lever II. Nuts N O, screwed on studs at the ends ofthe shaft, retain the cam elements and pedal-levers thereon. Each camelement is formed with peripheral tangential cam faces d, between whichand the opposing inner annular faces of the casings D are spaces inwhich are antifrict ion-rollers K. Covers L, here shown as securedon theouter faces of the casings D by means of screws, retain the said rollersin place.

It will be understood that as each pedaldirection.

lever is depressed the cam element G connected thereto moves with itthrough a partial rotation, and the tangential cam-faces J cause therollers K to move outwardly and frictionally engage the annular innerside of the casing D, and thereby also move the latter in the samedirection. To each lever H is attached a spring P to move the lever inthe reverse Fig. l. The same is a coiled retractile spring and iscontained in a tubularhousin g element M, that is attached to theseat-post 13..

' From the foregoing description, taken in One of these springs is shownin I connection with the accompanying drawings,

the construction and operation of the invention will be readilyunderstood Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

I claim In a bicycle, the combination of a hearing, a shaft mountedtherein, a casing fast to the shaft and having a cylindrical recess, agear- Wheel also revolnhle with the shaft, a lever loosely mounted onthe shaft, a cam element movable with and by the lever, disposed intherecess of the casing, and having peripheral tangential cam-faces andrevoluble and 'indepeudentlymovable anti friction elements

